Waiting for Gaudreau: The biggest contracts in Calgary Flames history

We’re now into World Cup of Hockey season, meaning we may be waiting for a while for news relating to Johnny Gaudreau’s contract extension. With this lull, it’s probably a good time to take a look at some of the richest deals in club history – particularly given Sean Monahan’s recent long-term, big-money extension.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the most expensive deals in Flames history. Where do you think Gaudreau’s deal, whenever it occurs, will fall within these lists?

Active contracts are bolded.

BIGGEST CAP HIT

$7 MILLION – JAROME IGINLA (2005-08)Coming off of a stretch where he scored 35, 41 and 50 goals and was among the best hockey players on the planet, Darryl Sutter astutely opened the cheque book.

$6.75 MILLION – MARK GIORDANO (2016-22)Giordano replaced Iginla as captain after the latter’s departure and continued his quiet progression into a Norris-caliber defender.

$6.68 MILLION – JAY BOUWMEESTER (2009-14)Darryl Sutter traded for Bouwmeester’s rights before the draft and signed him to a big, big money deal.

$6.5 MILLION – DION PHANEUF (2008-14)Phaneuf’s first contract after his entry-level deal was steep and almost impossible to live up to.

$6.375 MILLION – SEAN MONAHAN (2016-23)

$5.83 MILLION – MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF (2008-14)Kiprusoff put up some gaudy numbers in the first couple of season after the lockout, so he got a hefty raise.

$5.75 MILLION – DOUGIE HAMILTON (2015-21)The Flames acquired Hamilton with great fanfare at the 2015 NHL Draft and then locked him up long-term, with a cap hit only beaten by Giordano’s.

$5.25 MILLION – ALEX TANGUAY (2006-09)The Flames traded for Tanguay at the 2016 NHL Draft and signed him to a fairly big-money deal. He was coming off a few really productive seasons and the hope was he’d be a good fit with Jarome Iginla.

$5.25 MILLION – DENNIS WIDEMAN (2012-17)Jay Feaster traded for Wideman’s rights and signed him long-term to bolster the power-play – ala Sutter with Bouwmeester three seasons prior. It has been… mixed.

BIGGEST TOTAL VALUE

$44.625 MILLION – SEAN MONAHAN (2016-23)Monahan’s deal is for seven seasons at $6.375 million apiece.

$40.5 MILLION – MARK GIORDANO (2016-22)Current Flames captain Giordano signed a six-year deal at $6.75 million per season.

$39 MILLION – DION PHANEUF (2008-14)Back when he was thought to be the answer on the blueline, young Phaneuf signed for six seasons at $6.5 million per season.

$35 MILLION – MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF (2008-14)Miikka Kiprusoff’s last NHL contract was for six seasons and $5,833,333 (rounded to $5.83 million). He was good for five of those seasons.

$35 MILLION – JAROME IGINLA (2008-13)Coming off a three-year deal at $7 million apiece, the Flames extended Iginla for five more seasons at the same cap hit.

$34.5 MILLION – DOUGIE HAMILTON (2015-21)Arguably Brad Treliving’s biggest swing, acquiring Hamilton for picks and signing him for six years (at a hefty $5.75 million cap hit).

$33.4 MILLION – JAY BOUWMEESTER (2009-14)Compared to some of the deals that came after him, Bouwmeester’s was rather pedestrian: five seasons at $6.68 million. He was the highest-paid Flame (in terms of cap hit) for three days following Iginla’s trade to Pittsburgh.

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